UIC vs. UB

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and University at Buffalo? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Illinois Chicago
University at Buffalo

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UIC Yes
  • UB Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UIC No
  • UB No
  • Meal Plan
  • UIC Yes
  • UB Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UIC No
  • UB No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UIC Yes
  • UB Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than UB based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 31,903 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

UIC vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or UB? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois Chicago than UB ($10,852 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Chicago are 5.3% lower than at University at Buffalo ($16,500 vs. $17,426).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 31.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $3,402 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at UB than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $1,652 more per year; $31,536.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at University of Illinois Chicago (76% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 57.1% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($16,755 vs. $10,663).

UIC vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC or UB? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UB and UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 60 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming UB students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at UIC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 14.1% at UB.

UIC vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and UB? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University at Buffalo's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than UB graduates ($18,750 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UB graduates ($193 vs. $201).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.